Athletic-shoe construction



Feb. 21, 1928. v 6 1,659,666

J. T. RIDDELL ATHLETIC SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, 1925 I Izaak/z2?? 772276629685. 0/271 Zf'iYiJdeZ K I 4 Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN '1. BIDDELII, OF EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS.

ATHLETIC-SHOE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 28, 1926. Seriallo. 157,867.

This invention relates to improvements in athletic shoe construction, ofthe type utilizing relatively large cleats, such as commonly employed byfootball players.

5 An object in view is the effective retention of the sole of anathletic shoe against breaking or other distortion and the retention ofthe cleats in proper relation and operative condition, especially whererelatively widely spaced cleats are utilized.

With this and further objects in view, as will in part hereinafterbecome apparent and part be stated,'the invention comprises certainnovel construction, combinations and arrangements of parts ashereinafter specilied and claimed.

In the accompanyin drawing, Fig. 1 's a longitu inal, vertical sectionthrough a fragment of a shoe embodying the features of the presentinvention, the section being taken on the planes indicated by line 1-1of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an inverted as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar plan view of the bridging plate for the soledetached and shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a similar view of theheel bridging plate on a reduced scale relative to Fig. 3, and on anenlarged scale relative to Figs. 1 and 2'.

Fi 5 is an enlarged,'fra

plan view of the shoe entary, vertical, on 'tudinal, axial sectionthrough the sole an one of the cleats, parts being seen in elevation.

It has heretofore been proposed to stabilize the soles of shoes, both ofthe athletic type and of the ordinary type, by the interposition of ametal late withln the construction of the sole 0 the shoe. It has alsobeen proposed, to employ in the sole of an ordinary, non-athletic shoe aplate of spring metal anchored in the heel portion of the sole, andextending across the instep and .tread portion of the sole to afford asort of cantilever action for rendering added resiliency to the actionof walking. However, all of these pro osed constructions fail to affordthe requisite protection for cleats on athletic shoes of the type towhich the present invention is particularly applicable. Ihe-ell'ort insaid proposed constructions is to distribute the reactive stresses fromthe cleats to enhance the stability of the sole structure, and, in thecase of the spring plate, to afford a resilient support for the instep.I am unaware of any proposed use heretofore of a spring plate to whichcleats are anchored, or soles to which cleats are anchored, which solesare provided with spring plates. In athletic shoes of the type requirincleats, and especially the larger forms 0 cleats, it is found that, forsome pur ses, widely spaced cleats are desirable, an such arrangementhas come to be known as the self-clearing cleats. Cleats too closelyassembled soon have the intervenin spaces filled with mud or otherforeign su stances and the cleats proportionately lose their eflicacy.To obtain the best type of self-clear ing arrangement of cleats,therefore, it is desirable to have the cleats spaced a art as far as maybe reasonably ossible within the limits of the area of the s oe solebein considered. The result is that a very an antial section of shoesole exists between an two cleats, and in practice, where such selclearing cleats are employed, the average or ordinary shoe soleof-entire leather construction buckles, bends or breaks between cleats,or otherwise gives and allows the cleats to assume relatively distortedpositions, especially after such soles become saturated with moisture,which largely d'epreciates and spmztimes wholly destroys theutility ofthe 0 ea s. even when effectively anchored directl to the cleats,isliable to be permanently at out of proper position, and a rigid metalplate similarly anchored is liable to .break under the stress of twocleats moving relative to each other, so that such plates will A plateof soft ironor soft steel,

not serve to effectlvel avoid the danger to or deterioration of t e soleas above suggested. It is the object of the present invention to preventsuch inj or deterioration of a sole provided wit self-clearing cleats byutilizing a spring steel or other apis a spring plate 3, preferably ofthin sheet steel, interposed between the inner and the outer laminationsof the sole 2. The plate 3 is located in the tread portion of the soleand is shaped to conform to such portion. A similar plate 4:,corresponding in contour to that of the heel 11 and arranged above theheel, is also incorporated as an integral part of the sole structure.For purposes of the appended claim, the heel is considered a part of thesole. The plates 3 and 4 are retained firmly and eifectively in place bythe stitching or other connecting means employed for securing thelaminations of the sole 2 together, so that neither plate 3 nor plate 4is capable of any edgewise or other movement independent of the otherconstituents of the sole. Plate 4, of course, is formed, as seen in Fig.l, of a contour conforming to and slightly less in area than that of theheel 11.

Fixed to and extending down from the tread portion of sole 2 and fromthe heel ll are cleats 5, 5, spaced for producing a selfclearingconstruction, which is especially desirable in shoes of this character.Each cleat 5 is anchored exactly the same as all the other cleats,except that the heel cleats have slightly longer anchoring bolts orstuds, as will be well understood, and, therefore, a detaileddescription of the anchorage of one cleat is applicable to all.

For each cleat 5, a bolt or stud 6 extends through the sole, or heel,and outstands there rom. A washer 7, preferably of metal, surrounds theouter portion of bolt 6 and is clamped firmly against the underface ofthe sole by a nut@8.-"- A nut 9- is preferably imbedded in each cleat 5and the cleat is screwed home on the extended shank of the bolt 6ito aposition with the nut 9 threaded along the shank of bolt 6 sufficientlyfor insuring a firm and eflective seating 'qfcleat 5 against washer 7.Each bolt 6, in extending through the sole or heel, extends throughaperture 10 formed in the respective plate 3 or 4 for accommodating thebolt. Each aperture 10 is preferably proportioned to snugly accommodatethe passage of the bolt,

and in assembling the parts-after the plates. 3 and 4: are in position,it is necessary to. utilize appropriate means or methods for;

instance aperturing the sole 2 in alignment with the apertures 10.'llemplets may be emplo ed for this purpose. Thus, the bolts 6 ecotively engage the plates 3 and 4 and are not at liberty, therefore, tomove laterally relative to the plates, or to have any other displacementmovement without a proportional dislocation of engaged parts of theplate. Each of plates 3 and 4 is of sprin metal, preferably the finestobtainable 0100 spring being used.

The spring metal plate engaged by two spaced bolts 6, therefore, notonly resist reactive stresses and uniformly distributes them, but alsobridges the space between cleats in the sense of. guarding the soleagainst permanent buckling, stretching, giving or other displacementwhereby dislocation of the cleats may occur.' The cleats are, therefore,effectively and rigidly held in place, and, if temporarily moved, arerestored to normal relative position by the spring plate as soon asreleased from the 1 temporary distorting stress.

There is no efiort made in the use of the plates 3 and 4 to efiect acantilever action or any other resiliencyv of the shoe sole as a whole.In fact, the entire instep area of the sole is left without a plate ofany kind, so as to leave a hinge between the heel and the tread areas ofthe sole. 7

What is' claimed is:

In athletic shoe construction, in combination a shoe sole; a flexiblemetallic spring plate assembled Within said sole; relatively widelyspaced self-cleaning cleats outstanding from said sole; anchoring studsextending through said plate and adapted to yield vertically withrespect thereto; said cleats securedto said studs the upper end of-saidstuds imbedded withm said sole, above said plate, for anchoring saidcleats to said sole and to: said plate; said plate bridging the space',-between said cleats and adapted to yield for (permitting sidewaysflexing of said cleats' an to prevent permanent distortion thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name-to this specification;

Joan 'r, RIDDELL.

